First .357 wheelgun

Mullo98

Mullo98

Member
Joined
May 11, 2019
Messages
414
Location
The South
Hello, folks. Been a while since I posted. But during that time. I picked my first wheel gun. A Colt new King Cobra.
I picked this because the reviews were good, the looks help too. It took me a bit to get. The Sportsmen store sold one by the time I got the cash for it. But I was able to order on offline and picked it a week later.
I got a cheap nylon OWB holster for it and carried it for an afternoon. It carried well, but I would like to get a hold of a IWB holster to see how that goes before I drop the money on a good holster for carry.

Got some PMC .38s and Magtech .357 to test it out. The brass bead did well at some old oil jugs at around 25 feet or so. Recoil wasn't as bad as I thought. The first blast of .357 was the worst recoil wise, but the next 5 was easy to handle.

All in all. Good six gun so far, might switch the brass bed for a green optic sight. But I'm going to shoot it more before doing so. Also plan on picking up some Winchester Slivertip once I can get a chance.
 

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Good deal! :thumbup: I’m happy with my new model .38 Cobra, the trigger is awesome, I’m impressed with the machine work and it fits my hands very well. (Mine has the fiber optic sight and it does pop, so that may be a good swap. )I’m sure your new King Cobra .357 has a similar excellent trigger and finish work as well, the ones I’ve seen/held lived up to my expectations. :)

The .357 recoil, as you’ve discovered, is spirited but not overbearing in the mid-frames on up. The. 38 Spl in such a gun is a pussycat. The 3” to 6” K-L S&W and the Python/King Cobra Colts (along with Kimber, Ruger and a few others) strike just the right balance between shootability, carryability and versatility, IMHO the combo makes this type of gun the perfect .357 revolvers to start with. Great choice :thumbup:.

You’ve just started down a lifelong path of shooting mid-frame revolvers, it can become an obsession over time. Sit back, aim well and enjoy the ride!

Stay safe.
 
Riomouse911 said:
Good deal! :thumbup: I’m happy with my new model .38 Cobra, the trigger is awesome, I’m impressed with the machine work and it fits my hands very well. (Mine has the fiber optic sight and it does pop, so that may be a good swap. )I’m sure your new King Cobra .357 has a similar excellent trigger and finish work as well, the ones I’ve seen/held lived up to my expectations. :)

The .357 recoil, as you’ve discovered, is spirited but not overbearing in the mid-frames on up. The. 38 Spl in such a gun is a pussycat. The 3” to 6” K-L S&W and the Python/King Cobra Colts (along with Kimber, Ruger and a few others) strike just the right balance between shootability, carryability and versatility, IMHO the combo makes this type of gun the perfect .357 revolvers to start with. Great choice :thumbup:.

You’ve just started down a lifelong path of shooting mid-frame revolvers, it can become an obsession over time. Sit back, aim well and enjoy the ride!

Stay safe.
Click to expand...
The trigger is the best one in a handgun I used yet. Hardly any real pull in DA and just a squeeze in SA. I picked the size just for that reason, just a decent balance in terms of carry and use. I'm also ready to start a Snake gun collection...Just now need the money for a Python if one would ever stay in stock or if the rumors if a new Diamondback are true.
 
Good choice. Enjoy it in good health.
As for holster choices, cheap is never better.
An inexpensive leather IWB holster is a good place to start. Notice I said inexpensive, not cheap. Get one designed for your exact gun. Universal fit is NEVER the answer for comfort or security.
If you are like the rest of us, you will probably end up with a box full of holsters before you find just the right one.
 
Congrats!! You picked a great 1st revolver. Colt made these right, but you might run into problems with getting aftermarket grips, sights, & hosters. I certainly did. Just a few notes. This Colt, size wise, fits between the S&W J frame and the K frame. Goldilocks. I have several of each and as much as I like the K frame, concealed carry always felt a tad big to me. The 5 shot J frame will always be a "pocket rocket" for me.

View attachment 1034864

Night sights are impossible to find. I fitted a .155 Trijicon for another pistol to the colt, just a little filing. Brownells has the fiber optic sight you mentioned, in stock, and a good price too.

View attachment 1034865

The front screw makes switching the sight easy. As a side note, the recessed crown was nicely done.

View attachment 1034866

I couldn't find a holster I liked other than the custom leather guys, nice work, but a long wait time. I just wanted a plain OWB with a neutral cant. So I dug through my "box 'o holsters" and found a holster I made years ago for a 3" Dective Special I used to have. It fit good, good enough that I re boned and refinished to fit right. You may keep that in mind when looking for holsters.

View attachment 1034867

The grips are for a Colt D frame from Badger Grips. I have had many revolvers over the years and most end up with Badger Grips. I gather from my research that most grips for the old D frame and the newer Cobra will fit with a little work.

You will need a grip pin. Again, a hard to find item. I used a pin from an old police positive I had. It seems the pins were the same across frame sizes. Maybe I just got lucky.

The Badgers were not made for this gun. They clearly stated that they would not fit the King Coba. They did not fit. But about 3 minutes with a file, sand paper, and a glass of scotch and job done.

The King Cobra will use the same speedloaders as the old D/S and the newer Cobra's. HKS DS will do the trick. The HKS 10 for the K frame will work as well, but the DS is noticeably faster. Either way, you'll have to have the grip modified to use speed loaders. Not much room as the cylinder hugs close to the frame when opened. Those rubber Houges won't let you use them. Side note, clothing hangs on rubber grips, doesn't conceal as well.

I'm happy with it.
 
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There's a custom leathersmith that's only about 15-20 minutes away form me. Going to get him whip me up a holster, since I'm left handed, I was going to need a custom one anyways. The aftermarket support is sadly lacking. But Im pretty happy with the stock grips. Though some wood grips will be nice. I know a few places sell them.
 
Tinman357 said:
The Badgers were not made for this gun. They clearly stated that they would not fit the King Coba. They did not fit. But about 3 minutes with a file, sand paper, and a glass of scotch and job done.
Click to expand...

"Badgers? Badgers?"

"We don't have to show you no stinking Badgers..."

Nice grips and holster!

OP: Good luck with your new gun.
 
More side notes.......

The KC was good to go right from the factory. My normal routine when I get a new pistol is to work them over a bit. I never had one that didn't need some work right out of the box.

I'll recut the crown a bit to straighten it up and recess the crown. Colt already did it.

I'll recut the forcing cone. Colt already did it.

I've never had one where the throats were uniformly the right size. Colt already did it.

Last check, the chamber mouths... always a razor sharp edge that hangs up speed loaders. Yep, Colt already did that too.
View attachment 1034873

On the photo above.. the one and only concern I have with it is that the chamber walls seem a hair thin to me. Just fine for standard loads, but I won't be running any nuclear hot loads in it. I feel this tops out with Underwood or Buffalo Bore 158gn. The sights are dead "on" at 25yds with the 158gn Speer Gold Dots, my preferred carry round.

I haven't found anything inside that would cause me any concern. Took a look. Check. Looks good.
View attachment 1034874
Speed loaders. I've only ever used these two. I prefer the tried and true HKS, but these 5Star work pretty well. A bit more wiggle room and they seem a touch faster than the HKS especially with the pointy rounds you see here.

View attachment 1034877

If you run into any trouble finding wood grips and just can't live with the Houges, I have a set of Badgers in tung oil finished walnut. They run a bit over $85.00 if I remember right.

View attachment 1034879
If you like the looks, PM me your address and I'll dig up another grip pin and I'll send them to you.

Consider it a welcome to the revolver world gift. These have already been fitted to the KC and should just snap right on yours. I'll even cover the postage.

But you have to post photos and target after your next range run. Let us know how she walks with new shoes.

You chose a great 1st revolver. In a few years you'll have more. Enjoy the ride. I did!!
 
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Congrats on the new KC. The trigger on mine is simply superb, DA and SA -- it's better than the trigger on my 2021 Python.
Mullo98 said:
There's a custom leathersmith that's only about 15-20 minutes away form me. Going to get him whip me up a holster, since I'm left handed, I was going to need a custom one anyways. The aftermarket support is sadly lacking. But Im pretty happy with the stock grips. Though some wood grips will be nice. I know a few places sell them.
Click to expand...
I ordered a holster from George Bowers but noticed on his website he doesn't have any in stock for lefties. His prices tend to be a bit lower than some other leathersmiths, but the quality is excellent. I'm waiting on one from Kramer right now, as the Kramer horsehide belt scabbards will last a lifetime.

My King Cobra is absolutely one of the best revolvers I own, I really like this gun as it's not only a great shooter, but due to its size, very versatile.
king.jpg .
 
Tinman357 said:
More side notes.......

The KC was good to go right from the factory. My normal routine when I get a new pistol is to work them over a bit. I never had one that didn't need some work right out of the box.

I'll recut the crown a bit to straighten it up and recess the crown. Colt already did it.

I'll recut the forcing cone. Colt already did it.

I've never had one where the throats were uniformly the right size. Colt already did it.

Last check, the chamber mouths... always a razor sharp edge that hangs up speed loaders. Yep, Colt already did that too.
View attachment 1034873

On the photo above.. the one and only concern I have with it is that the chamber walls seem a hair thin to me. Just fine for standard loads, but I won't be running any nuclear hot loads in it. I feel this tops out with Underwood or Buffalo Bore 158gn. The sights are dead "on" at 25yds with the 158gn Speer Gold Dots, my preferred carry round.

I haven't found anything inside that would cause me any concern. Took a look. Check. Looks good.
View attachment 1034874
Speed loaders. I've only ever used these two. I prefer the tried and true HKS, but these 5Star work pretty well. A bit more wiggle room and they seem a touch faster than the HKS especially with the pointy rounds you see here.

View attachment 1034877

If you run into any trouble finding wood grips and just can't live with the Houges, I have a set of Badgers in tung oil finished walnut. They run a bit over $85.00 if I remember right.

View attachment 1034879
If you like the looks, PM me your address and I'll dig up another grip pin and I'll send them to you.

Consider it a welcome to the revolver world gift. These have already been fitted to the KC and should just snap right on yours. I'll even cover the postage.

But you have to post photos and target after your next range run. Let us know how she walks with new shoes.

You chose a great 1st revolver. In a few years you'll have more. Enjoy the ride. I did!!
Click to expand...
Thanks, I'll take consider it.
 
Old Dog said:
Congrats on the new KC. The trigger on mine is simply superb, DA and SA -- it's better than the trigger on my 2021 Python.

I ordered a holster from George Bowers but noticed on his website he doesn't have any in stock for lefties. His prices tend to be a bit lower than some other leathersmiths, but the quality is excellent. I'm waiting on one from Kramer right now, as the Kramer horsehide belt scabbards will last a lifetime.

My King Cobra is absolutely one of the best revolvers I own, I really like this gun as it's not only a great shooter, but due to its size, very versatile.
View attachment 1034908 .
Click to expand...
The Leather local to me is pretty fair on prices as well. But I'll give them look, going to need a good carry belt.
 
I have to retract my glowing review of the Colt KC as well as my personal reccomendation as a "great carry gun" that I posted above.

It isn't. While the fit and finish is nicely done, the weapon isn't very durable. Less than 100 rounds in I snapped a trigger return spring. Colt will not ship internal parts. Liability lawyers are running the company now.

I sent it in, 6 weeks later I got it back. New trigger return spring that only lasted another few hundred rounds. Took it to a smith and had a spring made. Then the hammer recently broke.

3 major failures in less than 800 rounds. Firing factory new ammo. No reloads, nothing hot. Just standard Federal 158gn FMJ.

I sent it back, got it back a bit quicker this time. The smith made spring had been pulled and replaced with a factory part. Don't know why.

This expensive, but really pretty pistol is now a range toy that I worry about every time I fire a round.

Completely unreliable.

These two issues are not rare. If historicaltrends hold true, then isn't going to do anything about it until a few people get killed when that TRS or hammer snaps off during a SD encounter.

Maybe not even then.

I've completely lost faith in the company. I've sold off all my Colts except this one and one other. I may sell the other, but is has family history and I don't carry it anyway. This one I won't sell as my conscience won't allow me to sell an unreliable gun.

I'll just keep sending it back for repairs as needed until I get disgusted with it and frame it on the wall as a bitter reminder that sometimes all is not as it seems at first.

I may get my gunsmith to mill a hammer and trigger out of forged steel. Might as well get all the other parts made as well. New springs while he's at it. It'd be nice to get the spade hammer spur and wider trigger that I like. It's going to triple the cost of the gun, but I might be able to trust it again. But a 3" Detective Special sized 357 mag in stainless, with the hammer and trigger I want would be a damn nice gun to have. And one of a kind, but really expensive.

If my review above encouraged you to buy one, I offer my sincere apologies.
 
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UncleEd said:
Tinman,

Your experience with the Cobra mirrors exactly what
KarateHottie is reporting in another thread about
the gun's failures.
Click to expand...

Well this is quite the coincidence indeed...

Doesn't give me much confidence in the RMA they're about to do, that I still don't know if I'm gonna be charged for or not.

They really need to recall these things and put some quality made parts in them already.
 
Sad to hear. I have my original king 70's ish cobra bright stainless 6 inch barrel thats great. I don't shoot it much though and I'm gonna sell it I think.
 
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